LIBRARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA, 

31  FT   OF 

Class  • 


Political  and  Judicial  Divisions 


OF   THE 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  GEORGIA. 


BY  CHARLES  EDGEWORTH  JONES. 


ATLANTA,  GA. 

JAS.  I'.  ILuiRiso.v  &  Co.,  Printers  and  Publisher, 

(FRANKLIN  PUBLISHING  HOUSK.) 

1892. 


, 


Political  and  Judicial  Divisions 


OF   THE 


COMMONWEALTH  OF  GEORGIA. 


BY  CHARLES  EDGEWORTH  JONES. 


ATLANTA,  GA. 

JAS.  P.  HARRISON  &  Co.,  Printers  and  Publishers. 
(FRANKLIN  PUBLISHING  HOUSE.) 

1892. 


TO    MY    FATHER, 

COLONEL  CHARLES  C.  JONES,  JR.,  LL.  D. 

THIS    TRACT 
IS    AFFECTIONATELY    INSCRIBED. 


228389 


EARLIEST  DIVISION. 


"  Deeming  it  conducive  to  the  convenience  of  the  inhabi- 
tants and  promotive  of  good  government,  the  trustees,  on  the 
1 5th  of  April,  1741,  divided  the  province  of  Georgia  into  two 
counties, — Savannah  and  Frederica.  The  former  included  all 
settlements  upon  the  Savannah  River  and  upon  both  banks  of 
the  Great  Ogeechee  River,  and  such  additional  territory  south 
of  the  latter  stream  as  should  be  designated  when  a  proper 
map  of  the  country  could  be  prepared.  Within  the  latter 
were  embraced  Darien,  Frederica,  and  the  entire  region  lying 
south  of  the  Alatamaha  River."  (See  History  of  Georgia, 
by  Charles  C.  Jones,  Jr.,  LL.  D.  vol.  i,  p.  416.  Boston, 
1883.) 

PARISHES. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  Acts  passed  by  the  legislature 
during  the  administration  of  Henry  Ellis,  the  second  Royal 
Governor  of  Georgia,  was  that  dividing  the  several  districts  of 
the  province  into  parishes,  providing  for  the  establishment  of 
religious  worship  according  to  the  rites  and  ceremonies  of  the 
Church  of  England,  and  for  other  purposes.  This  Act  was 
approved  on  the  i5th  of  March,  1758  (Watkins'  Digest,  pp. 
52-54),  and  by  it  the  province  of  Georgia  was  erected  into 
eight  parishes.  According  to  its  provisions  the  "town  and 
district  of  Savannah,  extending  up  the  river  Savannah,  in- 
cluding the  islands  therein,  as  far  as  the  southeast  boundary 
of  Goshen,  from  thence  in  a  southwest  line  to  the  river  Great 
Ogeechee ;  and  from  the  town  of  Savannah  eastward,  as  far 
as  the  mouth  of  the  river  Savannah,  including  the  sea  islands 
to  the  mouth  of  the  river  Great  Ogeechee,  and  all  the  settle- 
ments on  the  north  side  of  the  said  river  to  the  western  bound- 
aries thereof,"  constituted  the  parish  of  Christ  Church. 


The  district  of  Abercorn  and  Goshen,  and  the  district  of 
Ebenezer,  "extending  from  the  northwest  boundaries  of  the 
parish  of  Christ  Church  up  the  river  Savannah  as  far  as  the 
Beaver  Dam,  and  southwest  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  Horse 
Creek  on  the  river  Great  Ogeechee,"  were  constituted  a 
parish  by  the  name  of  Saint  Matthew. 

The  district  of  Halifax,  extending  from  the  northwest  bound- 
aries of  Saint  Matthew's  parish  up  the  Savannah  River  from 
the  mouth  of  McBean's  Swamp  to  the  head  thereof,  and  from 
thence  to  the  head  of  LamboPs  Creek  and  to  the  Great 
Ogeechee  River,  was  erected  into  a  parish  and  called  Saint 
George. 

"  The  district  of  Augusta,  extending  from  the  northwest 
boundary  of  the  parish  of  Saint  George,  and  southwest  as  far 
as  the  river  Ogeechee,  and  northwest  up  the  river  Savannah 
as  far  as  Broad  River,"  was  designated  as  the  parish  of  Saint 
Paul. 

"The  town  of  Hardwick,  and  district  of  Ogeechee,  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river  Great  Ogeechee,  extending  northwest 
up  the  said  river  as  far  as  the  Lower  Indian  Trading  Path 
leading  from  Mount  Pleasant,  and  southward  from  the  town 
of  Hardwick  as  far  as  the  swamp  of  James  Dunham,  in- 
cluding the  settlements  on  the  north  side  of  the  north  branches 
of  the  river  Midway,  with  the  island  of  Ossabaw,  and  from 
the  head  of  the  said  Dunham's  Swamp,  in  a  northwest  line," 
were  denominated  the  parish  of  Saint  Philip. 

Sunbury,  in  the  district  of  Midway  and  Newport,  and  all 
the  territory  "from  the  southern  bounds  of  the  parish  of  Saint 
Philip,  extending  southward  as  far  as  the  north  line  of  Samuel 
Hastings,  and  from  thence  southeast  to  the  south  branch  of 
Newport,  including  the  islands  of  Saint  Catharine  and  Ber- 
muda, and  from  the  north  line  of  the  said  Samuel  Hastings 
northwest,"  constituted  the  parish  of  Saint  John. 

"The  town  and  district  of  Darien,  extending  from  the  south 
boundary  of  the  parish  of  Saint  John  to  the  river  Alatamaha, 
including  the  islands  of  Sapelo  and  Eastwood,  and  the  sea 
islands  to  the  north  of  Egg  Island,  and  northwest  up  the  river 


Alatamaha  to  the  forks  of  the  said  river,"  were  formed  into 
the  parish  of  Saint  Andrew. 

"The  town  and  district  of  Frederica,  including  the  islands 
of  Great  and  Little  Saint  Simon,  and  the  adjacent  islands," 
were  to  constitute  the  parish  of  Saint  James. 

(As  to  these  parishes  see  likewise  Jones'  History  of  Georgia, 
vol.  i,  pp  524-5,  and  McCall's  History  of  Georgia,  vol.  i,  pp 
285-6. — Savannah,  1811.) 

In  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  an  Act  assented  to 
March  25,  1765,  (Watkins'  Digest,  p  114),  the  territory 
lying  between  the  rivers  Alatamaha  and  St.  Mary,  which  had 
a  little  while  before  been  annexed  to  the  province  of  Georgia, 
was  divided  into  four  parishes.  Section  II  of  this  Act  declares 
that  "all  that  space  or  tract  of  land,  lying  and  being  between 
the  river  Alatamaha  and  the  north  branch  of  Turtle  river,  and 
from  the  head  of  the  said  last  mentioned  river  in  a  northwest 
line,"  shall  be  known  as  the  parish  of  Saint  David',  "and  from 
the  north  branch  of  Turtle  river  to  the  southern  branch  of  the 
river  Little  Satilla,  and  from  the  head  of  the  said  river  Little 
Satilla,  in  a  northwest  line,"  shall  constitute  the  parish  of 
Saint  Patrick-,  "and  from  the  southern  branch  of  the  river 
Little  Satilla  to  the  southern  branch  of  the  river  Great  Satilla," 
shall  be  designated  as  the  parish  of  Saint  Thomas-,  "and  from 
the  southern  branch  of  the  river  Great  Satilla  to  the  southern 
branch  of  the  river  Saint  Mary,  and  from  the  head  of  the  said 
river  Saint  Mary  in  a  due  west  line,  including  all  the  islands 
within  the  said  boundary,"  shall  form  the  parish  of  Saint  Mary. 

By  section  IV  of  the  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777  (Wat- 
kins'  Digest,  p.  8),  it  was  provided  that  from  and  of  the 
twelve  parishes  as  aforesaid,  the  counties  of  Richmond,  Burke, 
Effingham,  Chatham,  Liberty,  Glynn  and  Camden,  should  be 
formed.  The  parish  of  St.  Paul  constituted  Richmond  county; 
that  of  St.  George  was  erected  into  the  county  of  Burke.  The 
parish  of  St.  Matthew,  and  the  upper  part  of  St  Philip,  above 
Canouchee,  were  designated  as  the  county  of  Effingham; 
while  Christ  Church  parish  and  tjie  lower  part  of  St.  Philip, 
below  Canouchee,  became  Chatham  county.  The  parishes  of 


8 

St.  John,  St.  Andrew,  and  St.  James  formed  the  county  of 
Liberty;  those  of  St.  David  and  St.  Patrick  composed  the 
county  of  Glynn;  and  the  parishes  of  St.  Thomas  and  St. 
Mary  were  denominated  the  county  of  Camden. 

The  ceded  lands  north  of  the  Ogeechee  river  constituted  an 
eighth  county,  which  was  called  Wilkes. 


COUNTIES. 


Georgia  at  present  consists  of  one  hundred  and  thirty-seven 
counties.     They  are  as  follows: 

Appling. — See  Land  Lottery  Act*  of  December  15,  1818 
(Lamar's  Compilation,  p.  417),  establishing  it. 
Named  in  honor  of  Colonel  Daniel  Appling, 
of  Columbia  county,  who  distinguished  himself 
in  the  war  of  1812. 

Baker. — See  Act  of  December  12,  1825  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  130),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
Colonel  John  Baker,  of  Revolutionary  memory. 

Baldwin. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  May  n,  1803  (Clay- 
ton's Compilation,  p.  101),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  Hon.  Abraham  Baldwin,  Signer 
from  Georgia  of  the  Federal  Constitution  of 
1787,  etc. 

Banks. — See  Act  of  December  n,  1858  (Laws  of  1858, 
p.  30),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Dr.  Richard 
Banks,  for  many  years  a  leading  man  in  North- 
eastern Georgia,  who  resided  at  Gainesville. 


*It  may  be  well  to  state  that  there  have  been  eight  Land  Lottery  Acts  pro- 
mulgated at  various  times  in  Georgia.  The  first  of  these  Acts  passed  the 
General  Assembly  of  the  Commonwealth  in  1803,  and  the  last  to  receive  the 
assent  of  that  body  bore  date  December  21,  1831.  1806,  1818.  1819,  1821,  1825, 
and  1830  are  the  years  with  which  the  passage  of  the  other.  Land  Lottery 
Acts  is  associated.  Land  Lotteries  were  devised  mainly  with  a  view  to  the 
distribution  of  the  public  lands  acquired  by  the  Commonwealth  through 
treaties  with  the  red  men.  The  subject  of  Land  Lotteries  has  been  discussed 
by  Absalom  H.  Chappell  in  his  Miscellanies  of  Georgia,  etc.  (Columbus  Ga., 
1874). 


10 

Bartow. — See  Act  of  December  6,  1861  (Laws  of  1861, 
p.  101),  by  which  the  name  of  Cass  county 
(established  by  Act  of  December  3,  1832, 
Laws  of  1832,  p.  57,  and  called  after  Hon. 
Lewis  Cass),  was  changed  to  that  of  Bartow, 
in  honor  of  General  Francis  S.  Bartow,  who  fell 
at  the  first  battle  of  Manassas. 

Berrien. — See  Act  of  February  25,  1856  (Laws  of  1855-56, 
p.  112),  establishing  it.  Named  after  Hon. 
John  McPherson  Berrien,  Judge,  United  States 
Senator  from  Georgia,  Attorney-General  of  the 
United  States  during  General  Jackson's  admin- 
istration, etc. 

Bibb. — See  Act  of  December  9, 1822  (Dawson's  Compilation, 
p.  122),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of 
Dr.  William  W.  Bibb,  Member  of  Congress, 
United  States  Senator  from  Georgia,  etc. 

Brooks. — See  Act  of  December  u,  1858  (Laws  of  1858,  p. 
35),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Preston 
S.  Brooks,  Member  of  Congress,  etc. 

Bryan, — See  Act  of  December  19,  1793  (Marbury  &  Craw- 
ford's Digest,  p.  167),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  Jonathan  Bryan,  the  patriot. 

Bullock. — See  Act  of  February  8,  1796  (Marbury  &  Craw- 
ford's Digest,  p.  169),  establishing  it.  Named 
after  Hon.  Archibald  Bulloch,  President  and 
Commander-in-Chief  of  Republican  Georgia  in 
1776. 

Burke. — See  Sect.  IV.,  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777 
(Watkins9  Digest,  p.  8),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  Edmund  Burke,  the  great  champion 
of  American  Liberty. 


11 

Butts. — See  Act  of  December  24,  1825  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  130),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
Captain  Samuel  Butts,  who  lost  his  life  in  the 
battle  of  Chalibbee,  January  27,  1814. 

Calhoun. — See  Act  of  February  20,  1854  (Laws  of  1853-4, 
p.  284),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  John 
C.  Calhoun. 

Camden. — See  Sec.  IV.,  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777 
(Watkins'  Digest,  p.  8),  establishing  it.  Named 
after  that  fearless  defender  of  Colonial  rights, 
the  Earl  of  Camden. 

Campbell. — See  Act  of  December  20,  1828  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  139),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
Hon.  Duncan  G.  Campbell,  one  of  the  two  com- 
missioners appointed  by  President  Monroe  in 
1824,  to  treat  with  Creek  Indians  for  the  sale  of 
their  lands. 

Carroll. — See  Act  of  December  n,  1826,  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  132),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
the  Hon.  Charles  Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  a  signer 
from  Maryland  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. 

Catoosa. — See  Act  of  December  5,  1853  (Laws  of  1853-4, 
pp.  286-7),  establishing  it.  Indian  name. 

Charlton. — See  Act  of  February  18, 1854  (Laws  of  1853—4,  P- 
290),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Robert 
M.  Charlton,  Judge,  United  Senator  from  Geor- 
gia, etc. 

Chatham. — See  Sec.  IV.,  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777 
(Watkins'  Digest,  p.  8),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  the  celebrated  Earl  of  Chatham. 


12 

Chattahoochee. — See  Act  of  February  13,  1854  (Laws  of 
1853-4,  pp.  288-90),  establishing  it.  Indian 
name. 

Chattooga. — See  Act  of  December  28,  1838  (Laws  of  1838, 
p.  77),  establishing  it.  Indian  name. 

Cherokee. — See  Act  of  December  26,  1831,  (Laws  of  1831,  p. 
74),  establishing  it.  Indian  name. 

Clarke. — See  Act  of  December  5,  1801  (Clayton's  Compila- 
tion, p.  35),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of 
General  Elijah  Clarke,  of  Revolutionary  mem- 
ory. 

Clay. — See  Act  of  February  16,  1854  (Laws  of  1853-4,  p. 
292),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Henry 
Clay. 

Clayton. — See  Act  of  November  30,  1858  (Laws  of  1858,  p. 
26),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Augus- 
tin  S.  Clayton,  Judge,  Member  of  Congress,  etc. 

Clinch. — See  Act  of  February  14,  1850  (Laws  of  1849-50)* 
p.  126),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of 
General  Duncan  L.  Clinch. 

Cobb. — See  Act  of  December  3,  1832  (Laws  of  1832,  p.  57), 
establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Thomas  W. 
Cobb,  Judge,  Member  of  Congress,  United 
States  Senator  from  Georgia,  etc. 

Coffee. — See  Act  of  February  9,  1854  (Laws  of  1853-4,  p. 
294),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  John 
Coffee,  of  Telfair  county,  Member  of  Congress? 
etc. 

Colquitt. — See  Act  of  February  25,  1856  (Laws  of  1855-6, 
pp.  108-9),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Walter  T.  Colquitt,  Judge,  United  States  Sena- 
tor from  Georgia,  etc. 


13 

Columbia. — See  Act  of  December  10,  1790  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  163),  establishing  it- 
Named  in  honor  of  Christopher  Columbus. 

Coweta. — See  Act  of  December  n,  1826  (Dawson's  Compila- 
tion, p.  132),  establishing  it.  Indian  name. 

Crawford. — See  Act  of  December  9,  1822  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  122),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
Hon.  William  H.  Crawford,  one  of  Georgia's 
most  distinguished  citizens. 

Dade. — See  Act  of  December  25,  1837  (Laws  of  1837,  p.  65), 
establishing  it.  Called  after  Major  Francis 
Langhorne  Dade,  U.  S.  A.,  who  was  killed  by 
the  Indians  in  Florida,  in  December,  1835. 

Dawson. — See  Act  of  December  3,  1857  (Laws  of  1857,  pp. 
32-3),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Wil- 
liam C.  Dawson,  United  States  Senator  from 
Georgia,  etc. 

Decatur. — See  Act  of  December  8,  1823  (Dawson's  Compila- 
tion, p.  126),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor 
of  Commodore  Stephen  Decatur. 

DeKalb. — See  Act  of  December  9,  1822  (Dawson's  Compila- 
tion, p.  122),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Baron 
DeKalb,  who  fell  in  defence  of  American  free- 
dom at  the  battle  of  Camden,  S.  C.,  August  19, 
1 780. 

Dodge. — See  Act  of  October  26,  1870  (Laws  of  1870,  p.  18), 
establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  William  E. 
Dodge,  of  New  York. 

Dooly. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  May  15,  1821    (Dawson's 
Compilation,   p.  246),  establishing  it.     Named 
*fa  honor  of  Colonel  John  Dooly,  who  was  mur- 
dered by  the  Tories  in  1780. 


14 

Dougherty. — See  Act  of  December  15,  1853  (Laws  of  1853-4, 
p.  296),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Charles  Dougherty,  of  Clarke  county,  Judge, 
etc. 

Douglas. — See  Act  of  October  17,  1870  (Laws  of  1870,  pp. 
13-14),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Stephen  A.  Douglas. 

Early. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  December  15,  1818  (La- 
mar's  Compilation,  p.  417  ),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  the  Hon.  Peter  Early,  Governor  of 
Georgia,  etc. 

Echols. — See  Act  of  December  13,  1858  (Laws  of  1858,  p. 
38),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Robert 
M.  Echols,  of  Walton  county. 

Effingham. — See  Sec.  IV.,  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777 
(Watkins'  Digest,  p.  8)j  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  the  Earl  of  Effingham,  an  ardent 
supporter  of  Colonial  rights. 

Elbert. — See  Act  of  December  10,  1890  (Marbury  and  Craw- 
ford's Digest,  p.  163),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  his  Excellency,  Governor  Samuel 
Elbert  of  Georgia,  General  in  the  Continental 
army,  etc. 

Emanuel. — See  Act  of  December  10,  1812  (Lamar's  Com- 
pilation, p.  197),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
the  Hon.  David  Emanuel,  Governor  of  Georgia, 
etc. 

Fannin. — See  Act  of  January  21,  1854  (Laws  of  1853-4,  P- 
298),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Colonel  J.  W. 
Fannin,  who  was  killed  by  the  Mexicans  at  Go- 
liad,  in  March,  1836. 

Fayette.—  See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  May  15,  1821  (Dawson's 
Compilation,  p.  246),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  the  Marquis  de  LaFayette. 


15 

Floyd. — See  Act  of  December  3,  1832  (Laws  of  1832,  p.  57), 
establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of  General 
John  Floyd,  Member  of  Congress,  etc. 

Forsyth. — See  Act  of  December  3,  1832  (Laws  ot  1832,  p. 
56),  establishing  it.  Called  after  the  Hon.  John 
Forsyth,  Governor  of  Georgia,  Secretary  of 
State  under  President  Jackson,  etc. 

Franklin.— See  Act  of  February  25,  1784  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  330),  establishing  it. 
Named  in  honor  of  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Fulton. — See  Act  of  December  20,  1853  (Laws  of  1853-4,  p. 
300),  establishing  it.  Called  after  the  famous 
Robert  Fulton. 

Gilmer. — See  Act  of  December  3,  1832,  (Laws  of  1832,  p. 
57),  establishing  it.  Called  after  the  Hon. 
George  R.  Gilmer,  Governor  of  Georgia,  etc. 

Glascock. — See  Act  of  December  19,  1857  (Laws  of  1857,  p. 
35),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of  General 
Thomas  Glascock,  of  Richmond  county. 

Glynn. — See  Sec.  IV.,  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777  (Wat- 
kins'  Digest,  p .  8),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
John  Glynn,  Esq.,  distinguished  for  his  unwa- 
vering support  of  the  Colonies. 

Gordon. — See  Act  of  February  13,  1850  (Laws  of  1849-50,  p. 
124),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of  Wil- 
liam W.  Gordon,  of  Savannah,  "the  pioneer  of 
works  of  internal  improvement  in  his  native 
State,  and  first  President  of  the  Central  Rail- 
road and  Banking  Company  of  Georgia." 

Greene. — See  Act  of  February  3,  1786  (Marbury  and  Craw- 
ford's Digest,  p.  162),  establishing  it.  Called 
after  Major  General  Nathanael  Greene. 


16 

G-winnett. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  December  15,  1818 
(Lamar's  Compilation,  p.  418),  establishing  it. 
Named  in  honor  of  Button  Gwinnett,  Signer 
from  Georgia  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, and  President  and  Commander-in-chief  of 
Republican  Georgia  in  1777. 

ffabersham. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  December  15,  1818 
(Lamar's  Compilation,  p.  418),  establishing  it- 
Called  after  Hon.  James  Habersham,  acting 
Royal  Governor  of  the  province  of  Georgia  in 
1771,  during  the  absence  of  Sir  James  Wright. 

Hall. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  December  15,  1818  (La- 
mar's  Compilation,  p.  418),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  Hon.  Lyman  Hall,  signer  from 
Georgia  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
Governor  of  Georgia,  etc. 

Hancock. — See  Act  of  December  17,  1793  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  164),  establishing  it. 
Named  in  honor  of  John  Hancock,  President  of 
the  Continental  Congress,  signer  from  Massa- 
chusetts of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
etc. 

Haralson. — See  Act  of  January  26, 1856  (Laws  of  1855-6,  pp 
110-12),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Hugh  A.  Haralson,  Member  of  Congress,  etc- 

Harris. — See  Act  of  December  14,  1827  (Dawson's  Compila- 
tion, p.  137),  establishing  it.  Named  after  Hon. 
Charles  Harris,  of  Savannah,  Judge  etc.,  who, 
in  his  day,  "was  regarded  by  many  as  the  most 
profound  lawyer  in  the  State." 

Hart. — See  Act  of  December  7,  1853  (Laws  of  1853-4,  PP- 
302-3),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Nancy 
Hart,  of  Revolutionary  memory. 


17 

Heard. — See  Act  of  December  22,  1830  (Laws  of  1830,  p. 
48),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Stephen 
Heard,  President  of  the  Executive  Council,  and 
dt  facto  Governor  of  Georgia  in  1780. 

Henry. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  May  15,  1821  (Dawson's 
Compilation,  p.  246),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  Patrick  Henry,  of  Virginia. 

Houstoun. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  May  15,  1821  (Daw- 
son's  Compilation,  p.  246),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  Hon.  John  Houstoun,  Republican 
Governor  of  Georgia  in  1778,  and  Governor  of 
Georgia  in  1784. 

Invin. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  December  15,  1818  (La- 
mar's  Compilation,  p.  417),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  Hon.  Jared  Trwin,  Governor  of 
Georgia,  etc. 

Jackson. — See  Act  of  February  n,  1796  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  168),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  his  Excellency,  General  James 
Jackson,  Governor  of  Georgia,  United  States 
Senator  from  Georgia,  etc. 

Jasper. — First  laid  out  and  known  as  Randolph  county  (See 
Act  of  December  10,  1807,  Clayton's  Compila- 
tion, pp.  357-8).  Name  changed  to  Jasper,  in 
honor  of  Sergeant  William  Jasper,  by  Act  of 
December  10,  1812  (Lamar's  Compilation,  p. 
199). 

Jefferson. — See  Act  of  February  20,  1796  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  pp.  [69-70),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  Thomas  Jefferson,  of  glorious 
memory. 

Johnson. — See  Act  of  December  11,  1858  (Laws  of  1858,  p. 
32),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Herschel 
V.  Johnson,  Governor  of  Georgia,  etc. 


18 

Jones. — See  Act  of  December  TO,  1807  (Clayton's  Compila- 
tion, p.  358),  establishing  it.  Named  after  Hon. 
James  Jones,  Member  of  Congress,  etc. 

Laurens.— See  Act  of  December  10,  1807  (Clayton's  Compi- 
lation, p.  358),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor 
of  Colonel  John  Laurens,  who  was  killed  in.the 
Revolutionary  war,  near  Combahee,  S.  C.,  Au- 
gust 27,  1782. 

Lee. — See  Act  of  December  n,  1826  (Dawson's  Compilation, 
p.  132),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Richard 
Henry  Lee  of  Virginia,  who,  on  June  7,  1776, 
in  his  place  in  the  Continental  Congress,  moved 
u  that  the  colonies  declare  themselves  free  and 
independent." 

Liberty. — See  Sec.  IV.,  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777 
(Watkins'  Digest,  p.  8),  establishing  it.  As  a 
tribute  to  the  early  and  conspicuous  devotion  of 
the  citizens  of  St.  John's  Parish  to  the  cause  ot 
freedom,  this  county  was  so  called. 

Lincoln. — See  Act  of  February  20,  1796  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  170),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  Major  General  Benjamin  Lincoln. 

Lowndes. — See  Act  of  December  23,  1825  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  128),  establishing  it.  Named  after 
Hon.  William  J.  Lowndes  of  South  Carolina, 
Member  of  Congress,  etc.,  whom  Henry  Clay 
pronounced  to  be  "  the  wisest  man  he  had  ever 
known  in  Congress. " 

Lumpkin. — See  Act  of  December  3,  1832  (Laws  of  1832,  p. 
56),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Wilson 
Lumpkin,  Governor  of  Georgia,  United  States 
Senator  from  Georgia,  etc. 


19 

McDuffie. — See  Act  of  October  18,  1870  (Laws  of  1870,  p. 
20),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  George 
McDuffie,  United  States  Senator  from  South 
Carolina,  etc. 

Mclntosh.—See  Act  of  December  19,  1793  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  167),  establishing  it.  So 
named  to  commemorate  the  services  of  the  Mc- 
Intosh  family  (Colonel  John,  General  Lachlan 
Mclntosh,  etc.) 

Macon. — See  Act  of  December  14,  1837  (Laws  of  1837,  pp. 
66-7),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of 
Nathaniel  Macon,  of  North  Carolina. 

Madison.-— See  Act  of  December  5,  i8n  (Lamar's  Compila- 
tion, pp.  181-2),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
James  Madison,  President  of  the  United  States. 

Marion. — See  Act  of  December  14,  1827  (Dawson's  Compi- 
lation, p.  137),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor 
of  General  Francis  Marion. 

Meriwether. — See  Act  of  December  14,  1827  (Dawson's 
Compilation,  p.  137),  establishing  it.  Called 
after  General  David  Meriwether. 

Miller.— See  Act  of  February  26,  1856  (Laws  of  1855-6,  pp. 
114-15),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Andrew  J.  Miller  of  Augusta. 

Milton. — See  Act  of  December  18,  1857  (Laws  of  1857,  pp. 
36-7),  establishing  it.  Called,  according  to  one 
authority,  after  John  Milton,  an  officer  of  the 
Georgia  Continental  forces,  who  was  subse- 
quently Secretary  of  State  of  the  Common- 
wealth; according  to  another,  the  county  is 
named  after  Colonel  Homer  V.  Milton,  of 
Jefferson  county,  Georgia,  an  officer  in  the  old 
United  States  Army. 


20 

Mitchell. — See  Act  of  December  21, 1857  (Laws  of  1857,  p. 
38),  establishing  it.  Called  after  General  Henry 
Mitchell,  a  resident  and  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Hancock  county. 

Monroe. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  May  15,  1821  (Dawson's 
Compilation,  p.  246),  establishing  it.  Called 
after  James  Monroe,  President  of  the  United 

States. 

Montgomery. — See  Act  of  December  19,  1793  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  167),  establishing  it. 
Named  in  honor  of  General  Richard  Mont- 
gomery, an  early  martyr  to  the  cause  of  Ameri- 
can liberty. 

Morgan. — See  Act  of  December  10,  1807  (Clayton's  Com- 
pilation, p.  357)>  establishing  it.  Called  after 
General  Daniel  Morgan,  of  Revolutionary 
memory. 

Murray. — See  Act  of  December  3,  1832  (Laws  of  1832,  p. 
57),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  Thomas 
W.  Murray,  of  Lincoln  county. 

Muscogee. — See  Act  of  December  n,  1826  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  132),  establishing  it.  Indian  name. 

Newton. — See  Act  of  December  24,  1821  (Dawson's  Compila- 
tion, p.  119),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor 
of  Sergeant  John  Newton,  of  Revolutionary 
celebrity. 

Oconee. — See  Act  of  February  25,  1875  (Laws  of  1875,  PP- 
109-10),  establishing  it.  Indian  name. 

Oglethorpe. — See  Act  of  December  19,  1793  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  166),  establishing  it. 
Named  in  honor  of  General  Oglethorpe,  the 
founder  of  the  colony  of  Georgia. 


21 

Paulding. — See  Act  of  December  3,  1832  (Laws  of  1832,  p. 
58),  establishing  it.  Called  after  John  Pauld- 
ing, one  of  the  captors  of  Major  Andre. 

Pickens. — See  Act  of  December  5,  1853  (Laws  of  1853-4,  p. 
306),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of  General 
Andrew  Pickens. 

Pierce. — See  Act  of  December  18, 1857  (Laws  of  1857,  p.  41), 
establishing  it.  Called  after  Franklin  Pierce, 
President  of  the  United  States. 

Pike. — See  Act  of  December  9,  1822  (Dawson's  Compilation, 
p.  122),  establishing  it.  Called  after  General 
Zebulon  M.  Pike. 

Polk. — See  Act  of  December  20,  1851  (Laws  of  1851-2,  pp. 
52-3),  establishing  it.  Called  after  James  K. 
Polk,  President  of  the  United  States. 

Pulaski. — See f Act  of  December  13,  1808  (Clayton's  Com- 
pilation, p.  470),  establishing  it.  Named  in 
honor  of  Count  Casimir  Pulaski. 

Putnam. — See  Act  of  December    10,    1807  (Clayton's  Com- 
•    pilation,  p.  358),  establishing  it.      Called  after 
Major-General  Israel  Putnam. 

Quitman. — See  Act  of  December  10,  1858  (Laws  of  1858, 
pp.  28-9),  establishing  it.  Called  after  General 
John  A.  Quitman. 

Rabun. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  December  21,  1819  (La- 
mar's  Compilation,  pp.  429-30),  establishing  it. 
Named  after  Hon.  William  Kabun,  Governor 
of  Georgia,  etc. 

Randolph. — See  Act  of  December  20,  1828  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  138),  establishing  it.  Named  in 
honor  of  John  Randolph  of  Roanoke. 


22 

Richmond. — See  Sec.  IV.,  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777 
(Watkins'  Digest,  p.  8),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  Richmond,  a  warm 
friend  of  American  liberty. 

Rochdale. — See  Act  of  October  18,  1870  (Laws  of  1870, 
pp.  16-17),  establishing  it.  So  called  because 
of  the  geological  characteristics  of  the  locality, 
and  the  underlying  granite  formation. 

tichley.—See  Act  of  December  22,  1857  (Laws  of  1857,  p. 
42),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon.  William 
Schley,  Governor  of  Georgia. 

Screven. — See  Act  of  December  14,  1793  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  p.  165),  establishing  it. 
Named  after  General  James  Screven,  who  fell 
at  the  affair  near  Midway  church,  in  November, 

1778. 

Spalding. — See  Act  of  December  20,  1851  (Laws  of  1851-52, 
pp.  58-9),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Thomas  Spalding,  Member  of  Congress,  etc. 

Stewart. — See  Act  of  December  23,  1830  (Laws  of  1830,  p. 
50),  establishing  it.  Called  after  General  Daniel 
Stewart,  of  Liberty  county,  an  active  partizan 
officer  in  the  Army  of  the  Revolution. 

Sumter. — See  Act  of  December  26,  1831  (Laws  of  1831,  p. 
76),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Major  General 
Thomas  Sumter,  of  Revolutionary  distinction. 

Talbot. — See  Act  of  December  14,  1827  (Dawson's  Compila- 
tion, p.  137),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Matthew  Talbot,  Governor  of  Georgia,  etc. 

Taliaferro. — See  Act  of  December  24,  1825  (Dawson's  Com- 
pilation, p.  129),  establishing  it.  Named  after 
Hon.  Benjamin  Taliaferro,  Member  of  Con- 
gress, etc. 


23 

TattnaU. — See  Act  of  December  5,  1801  (Clayton's  Com- 
pilation, p.  34),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
Hon.  Josiah  Tattnall,  Governor  of  Georgia,  etc. 

Taylor. — See  Act  of  January  15,  1852  (Laws  of  1851-2,  p. 
61),  establishing  it.  Called  after  General  Zach- 
ary  Taylor,  President  of  the  United  States. 

Tel/air. — See  Act  of  December  10, 1807  (Clayton's  Compila- 
tion, p.  358),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Edward  Telfair,  Governor  of  Georgia,  etc. 

Terrell. — See  Act  of  February  16,  1856  (Laws  of  1855-6, 
p.  117},  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of 
Dr.  William  Terrell,  of  Hancock  county. 

Thomas.  —See  Act  of  December  23,  1825  (Dawson's  Compi- 
lation, p.  128),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
General  Jett  Thomas,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
of  Baldwin  count}'. 

Towns. — See  Act  of  March  6,  1856  (Laws  of  1855-6,  p.  121), 
establishing  it.  Named  after  Hon.  George  W. 
Towns,  Governor  of  Georgia,  etc. 

Troup. — See  Act  of  December  n,  1826  (Dawson's  Compi- 
lation, p.  132),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
Hon.  George  Mclntosh  Troup,  Governor  of 
Georgia,  United  States  Senator  from  Georgia,  etc. 

Tioiggs.-—See  Act  of  December  14,  1809  (Clayton's  Compi- 
lation, p.  566),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor 
of  General  John  Twiggs,  of  Revolutionary 
memory. 

Union. — See  Act  of  December  3, 1832  (Laws  of  1832,  p.  56), 
establishing  it.  For  the  probable  origin  of  the 
name  of  this  county,  see  Sherwood's  Gazetteer, 
3rd  ed.,  p.  245 — Washington  City,  1837— 
where  we  are  informed  that  it  was  called 
Union  because  none  but  Union  men  resided  in 
it; — i.  e., Union  men  in  contradistinction  to  States' 
rights  men  or  Nullifiers. 


24 

Upson. — See  Act  of  December  15,  1824  (Dawson's  Compi- 
lation, p.  127),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
Hon.  Stephen  Upson,  of  Oglethorpe  county,  an 
eminent  lawyer,  and  one  of  the  first  men  of  his 
day  in  Georgia. 

Walker. — See  Act  of  December  18,  1833  (Laws  of  1833,  PP« 
32-3),  establishing  it.  Named  in  honor  of  Major 
Freeman  Walker,  U.  S.  Senator  from  Geor- 
gia, etc. 

Walton. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  December  15,  1818 
(Lamar's  Compilation,  ppv4-i 7-i 8),  establishing 
it.  Named  after  Hon.  Ge*brge  Walton,  signer 
from  Georgia  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence, Governor  of  Georgia,  etc.,  etc. 

Ware. — See  Act  of  December  15,  1824  (Dawson's  Compila- 
tion, p.  127),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Nicholas  Ware,  U.  S.  Senator  from  Georgia. 

Warren. — See  Act  of  December  19,  1793  (JMarbury  &  Craw- 
ford's Digest,  p.  1 66),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  Major-General  Joseph  Warren,  who 
fell  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

Washington. — See  Act  of  February  25,  1784  (Marbury  and 
Crawford's  Digest,  pp.  330-31),  establishing  it. 
Called  after  General  George  Washington. 

Wayne. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  May  u,  1803  (Clayton's 
Compilation,  p.  101),  establishing  it.  Named 
in  honor  of  Major-General  Anthony  Wayne. 

Webster. — See  Act  of  February  21,  1856  (Laws  of  1855-6, 
p.  414), changing  name  of  Kinchafoonee  county 
(established  by  Act  of  December  16,  1853 — 
Laws  of  1853-4,  p.  304)  to  Webster  county,  in 
honor  of  the  great  statesman  and  orator,  Daniel 
Webster. 


25 

White. — See  Act  of  December  22,  1857  (Laws  of  1857, 
pp.  44-5),  establishing  it.  Called  after  Hon. 
Hugh  L.  White  of  Tennessee. 

Whitefieid. — See  Act  of  December  30,  1851  (Laws  of  1851-2, 
p.  56),  establishing  it.     Named  in  honor  of  the 
•  Reverend    George    Whitefieid,  the   celebrated 
preacher. 

Wilcox. — See  Act  of  December  22,  1857  (Laws  of  1857, 
p .  46) ,  establishing  it.  Called  after  Captain  John 
Wilcox,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Telfair 
county. 

Wilkes. — See  Sect.  IV,  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1777  (Wat- 
kins'  Digest,  p.  8),  establishing  it.  Called  after 
John  Wilkes,  the  great  champion  of  American 
liberty. 

Wilkinson. — See  Land  Lottery  Act  of  May  ti,  i8o3(  Clay- 
ton's Compilation,  p.  101),  establishing  it. 
Named  in  honor  of  General  James  Wilkinson. 

Worth. — See  Act  of  December  20,  1853  (Laws  of  1853-4, 
p.  308),  establishing  it».  Called  after  General 
William  J.  Worth. 


By  Paragraph  II.,  Section  I.,  Article  XL  of  the  State  Consti- 
tution of  1877  (Code  of  Georgia,  1882,  p.  1325),  it  is  declared 
that  "no  new  county  shall  be  created." 


Apropos  to  the  naming  of  the  several  counties,  it  may  be 
mentioned  that  the  Rev.  George  White's  Statistics  of  the 
State  of  Georgia  (Savannah,  1849),  and  his  Historical  Collec- 
tions of  Georgia  (New  York,  1854),  throw  much  light  upon  the 
subject. 


26 

The  area  of  Georgia  with  respect  to  land  surface,  as  com- 
puted by  the  census  of  1880,  is  58,980  sq.  mi.  The  two  largest 
counties  in  the  Commonwealth  are  those  of  Decatur  and  Tatt- 
nall.  The  former  contains  1,160  sq.  mi.,  and  the  latter  1,100 
sq.  mil.  The  areas  of  Appling,  Charlton,  Emanuel  and  Burke 
counties  all  transcend  1,000  sq.  mi.  Coffee  county  contains  980 
sq.  mi.,  and  Bulloch  and  Clinch  counties  embrace  an  area  of 
900  sq.  mi.  Nine  counties  in  the  State  contain  more  than  700 
sq.  mi.,  and  five  more  than  600  sq.  mi.  There  are  sixteen 
counties  in  the  State  which  contain  500  sq.  mi.  or  the  rise, 
and  thirty-two  which  have  an  area  of  400  or  more  sq.  mi. 
Twenty-seven  counties  contain  300  sq.  mi.  and  the  rise, 
and  twenty-three  200  or  more  sq.  mi.  Fifteen  counties  con- 
tain more  than  100  sq.  mi.  Grlascock  county  is  the  small- 
est county  in  Georgia,  and  contains  100  sq.  mi. 


27 


CONGRESSIONAL  DISTRICTS. 


Under  the  Federal  Constitution  of  1787  Georgia's  appor- 
tionment of  Representatives  in  Congress  was  three.  On  the 
8th  of  December,  1790,  the  Legislature  divided  the  State  into 
three  congressional  districts.  (See  Stevens'  History  of 
Georgia,  Vol.  II.,  p.  394,  Philadelphia,  1859.)  By  l^e  ^rst 
census  of  the  United  States  the  representation  of  the  Common- 
wealth in  the  Lower  House  of  Congress  was  fixed  at  two 
members,  they  being  elected  on  the  general  ticket.  Under 
the  second  census  Georgia  had  four  Representatives;  under 
the  third  she  had  six,  and  under  the  fourth  seven.  By  Act  of 
December  22,  1825  (Dawson's  Compilation,  pp.  161-2),  the 
State  was  laid  off  and  divided  into  seven  congressional  dis- 
tricts. This  statute  was,  however,  repealed  in  the  following 
year  (see  Act  of  December  18,  1826,  Dawson's  Compilation, 
p.  168);  and  it  was  not  until  1843  that  the  congressional  dis- 
trict system  came  again  into  play.*  In  pursuance  of  an  Act 
approved  December  23d  of  that  year  (see  Laws  of  1843,  pp. 
54-56),  Georgia  was  divided  into  eight  congressional  districts. 
Twenty-eight  years  later,  when  an  Act  to  lay  out  and  estab- 
lish congressional  districts  in  this  State  in  conformity  with  the 
last  apportionment  of  representation  in  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  (see  Act  of  July  30,1872, — Laws  of  1872,  pp.  12- 
13),  passed  the  General  Assembly,  the  number  of  districts  was 
increased  to  nine .  The  present  status  of  congressional  districts 
dates  from  1883.  By  an  Act  assented  to  August  28th  of  that 
year  (Laws  of  1882-3,  pp.  121-2),  the  Commonwealth  of 
Georgia  was  divided  into  ten  congressional  districts.  This 
was  done  in  pursuance  of,  and  in  conformity  with,  an  Act  of 


*See  section  II.  of  Census  Act  of  June  25,  1842  (United  States  Statutes  at 
Large,  Vol.  V.,  p.  491),  whereby  it  was  declared  that,  in  every  case  where 
a  State  was  entitled  to  more  than  one  Representative  in  Congress,  the  mem- 
bers should  be  elected  by  districts,  each  district  electing  one  Representative. 


28 

Congress  approved  on  Feburary  25th  of  the  preceding  year. 
(U.  S.  Statutes  of    1881-2,  pp.  5-6.)     It    was    provided   in 
the    enactment    above    referred    to, — that    of    August    28, 
1883, — that  the  First   Congressional  District  should  be  com- 
posed of  the  counties   of  Appling,  Bryan,  Bulloch,  Camden, 
Charlton,     Chatham,     Clinch,    Echols,    Effingham,    Emanuel, 
Glynn,   Liberty,  Mclntosh,  Pierce,   Screven,  Tattnall,   Ware 
and  Wayne;   that  the   Second    Congressional   District  should 
consist  of  the  counties  of  Baker,  Berrien,  Brooks,  Calhoun, 
Clay,   Colquitt,  Decatur,  Dougherty,  Early,  Lowndes,  Miller, 
?>iitchell,  Quitman,  Randolph,  Terrell,  Thomas  and  Worth; 
that  the   Third  Congressional  District  should  be  composed  of 
the  counties  of  Coffee,  Dodge,  Dooly,  Houstoun, Irwin, Laurens, 
Lee,  Macon,  Montgomery,  Pulaski,  Schley,  Stewart,    Sumter, 
Telfair,  Webster  and  Wilcox;  that  the  Fourth  Congressional 
District  should  consist  of  the  counties  of  Carroll.  Chattahoochee, 
Coweta,  Harris,  Heard,  Marion,  Meriwether,  Muscogee,  Tal- 
bot,  Taylor  and  Troup;  that  the  Fifth  Congressional  District 
should  be  composed  of  the  counties  of   Campbell,    Clayton, 
DeKalb,  Douglas,  Fayette,  Fulton,  Henry,   Newton,  Rock- 
dale,  Spalding  and  Walton;  that  the  Sixth  Congressional  Dis- 
trict should  consist  of  the  counties  of  Baldwin,  Bibb,  Butts, 
Crawford,  Jasper,  Jones,  Monroe,  Pike,  Twiggs,  Upson  and 
Wilkinson;  that  the  Seventh  Congressional  District  should  be 
composed   of  the  counties   of    Bartow,   Catoosa,    Chattooga, 
Cobb,  Dade,    Floyd,  Gordon,   Haralson,  Murray,    Paulding, 
Polk,  Walker,  and  Whitefield;  that  the  Eighth  Congressional 
District  should  consist  of  the  counties  of  Clarke,  Franklin,  Ef- 
bert,  Greene,    Hancock,    Hart,   Madison,    Morgan,   Oconee, 
Oglethorpe,    Putnam    and    Wilkes;    that    the    Ninth     Con- 
gressional District  should  be  composed  of  the  counties  of  Banks, 
Cherokee,  Dawson,  Fannin,  Forsyth,  Gilmer,  Grwinnett,  Hall, 
Habersham,  Jackson,     Lumpkin,    Milton,     Rabun,    Pickens, 
Towns,  Union  and  White;  and  that  the  Tenth  Congressional 
District  should  consist  of  the    counties  of    Burke,  Columbia, 
Glascock,  Jefferson,  Johnson,   Lincoln,  McDuffie,  Richmond, 
Taliaferro,  Warren  and  Washington. 


29 

By  an  Act  to  divide  the  State  of  Georgia  into  eleven 
congressional  districts,  in  conformity  to  an  Act  of  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States,  approved  February  7, 
1891,* — assented  to  September  26,  1891  (Laws  of  1890- 
'91,  Vol.  I.,  p.  193))  it  vvas  provided  that  the  First 
District  shall  be  composed  of  the  counties  of  Chatham, 
Burke,  Screven,  Emanuel,  Bulloch,  Effingham,  Bryan,  Tatt- 
nall,  Liberty  and  Mclntosh  ;  that  the  Second  District  shall 
consist  of  the  counties  of  Quitman,  Clay,  Randolph,  Ter- 
rell, Calhoun,  Dougherty,  Worth,  Early,  Baker,  Miller, 
Mitchell,  -  Colquitt,  Berrien,  Decatur  and  Thomas;  that 
the  Third  District  shall  comprise  Stewart,  Webster,  Sumter, 
Lee,  Dooly,  Wilcox,  Schley,  Pulaski,  Twiggs,  Houstoun, 
Macon,  Taylor  and  Crawfoid  counties;  that  the  counties 
of  Muscogee,  Marion,  Talbot,  Harris,  Meriwether,  Troup, 
Coweta,  Heard,  Carroll  and  Chattahoochee  shall  constitute 
the  Fourth  Congressional  District;  that  the  Fifth  District 
shall  be  composed  of  Fulton,  Douglas,  Campbell,  Clayton, 
DeKalb,  Rockdale,  Newton  and  Walton  counties  ;  that 
the  counties  of  Bibb,  Baldwin,  Jones,  Monroe,  Upson,  Pike, 
Spalding,  Fayette,  Henry  and  Butts  shall  form  the  Sixth 
District;  that  the  Seventh  Congressional  District  shall  con- 
sist of  the  counties  of  Haralson,  Paulding,  Cobb,  Polk, 
Floyd,  Bartow,  Chattooga,  Gordon,  Walker,  Dade,  Catoosa, 
Whitefield  and  Murray;  that  the  Eighth  District  shall  com- 
prise Jasper,  Putnam,  Morgan,  Greene,  Oconee,  Clarke,  Ogle- 
thorpe,  Madison,  Elbert,  Hart,  Franklin  and  Wilkes  counties; 
that  the  counties  of.Fannin,  Union,  Towns,  Rabun,  Haber- 
sham,  White,  Lumpkin,  Dawson,  Gilmer,  Pickens,  Cherokee, 
Forsyth,  Milton,  Gwinnett,  Jackson,  Hall  and  Banks  shall  be 
included  in  the  Ninth  District;  that  the  Tenth  District 
shall  embrace  the  counties  of  Richmond,  Columbia,  Lin- 
coln, Jefferson,  Glascock,  McDuffie,  Warren,  Taliaferro, 


*See  U.  S.  Statutes,  iSpo-^i—  Vol.  II.,  pp.  735-6.  The  Act  declares  that 
the  proposed  change  in  apportionment  shall  not  take  effect  until  after  the  third 
of  March,  1893. 


Washington,  Wilkinson  and  Hancock;  and  that  the  Eleventh 
Congressional  District  shall  be  composed  of  the  counties  of 
Glynn,  Johnson,  Laurens,  Montgomery,  Dodge,  Telfair,  Irwin, 
Coffee,  Appling,  Wayne,  Pierce,  Ware,  Clinch,  Echols, 
Lowndes,  Brooks,  Charlton  and  Camden. 


STATE  SENATORIAL  DISTRICTS. 


Senatorial  districts  were  first  established  in  Georgia  by  con- 
stitutional amendment  in  1843.  Section  II.  of  an  Act  ap- 
proved December  23d  of  that  year  (Laws  of  1843,  pp.  17- 
19)  declared  that  the  State  should  be  divided  into  forty-seven 
senatorial  districts.  All  of  those  districts,  with  the  exception 
of  the  first  or  Chatham  county,  were  to  consist  each  of  two 
counties.  From  every  one  of  them  a  State  Senator  was  to 
be  chosen. 

By  paragraph  I.,  section  II.,  article  II.  of  the  Constitution  of 
Georgia,  as  amended  by  the  State  Convention  which  assembled 
at  Savannah  in  1861  (Code  of  Georgia,  1861,  p.  964),  pro- 
vision was  made  for  the  establishment  of  forty-four  senato- 
rial districts  instead  of  forty-seven  as  theretofore.  Each  dis- 
trict was  to  be  composed  of  three  contiguous  counties,  and 
was  entitled  to  one  Senator.  This  order  of  affairs,  in  the 
main,  still  obtains,  and  paragraph  I.,  section  II. ,  article  III.  of 
the  Constitution  of  Georgia  of  1877  (Code  of  1882,  pp.  1295- 
6),  declares  that  of  the  forty-four  State  Senatorial  Districts 
the  first  shall  be  composed  of  the  counties  of  Chatham, 
Bryan  and  Effingham  ;  —  the  second  of  the  counties  of 
Liberty,  Tattnall  and  Mclntosh  ; — the  third  of  the  counties 
of  Wayne,  Pierce  and  Appling; — the  fourth  of  the  coun- 
ties of  Glynn,  Camden  and  Charlton ; — the  fifth  of  Coffee, 
Ware  and  Clinch  counties  ; — the  sixth  of  Echols,  Lowndes 
and.  Berrien  counties ;  —  the  seventh  of  the  counties  of 
Brooks,  Thomas  and  Colquitt; — the  eighth  of  the  counties 
of  Decatur,  Mitchell  and  Miller; — the  ninth  of  Early,  Cal- 
houn  and  Baker  counties ; — the  tenth  of  Dougherty,  Lee 
and  Worth  counties ;  —  the  eleventh  of  the  counties  of 
Clay,  Randolph  and  Terrell ;  —  the  twelfth  of  Stewart, 
Webster  and  Quitman  counties :  —  the  thirteenth  of  the 
counties  of  Sumter,  Schley  and  Macon  ; — the  fourteenth 


32 

of    the  counties    of  Dooly,    Wilcox,   Pulaski  and   Dodge; — 
the  fifteenth   of    the   counties    of   Montgomery,  Telfair    and 
Irwin  ; — the   sixteenth    of    Laurens,    Emanuel    and   Johnson 
counties  ;  —  the     seventeenth    of    the    counties    of    Screven, 
Bulloch  and    Burke  ; — the   eighteenth    of    Richmond,    Glas- 
cock   and  Jefferson   counties  ; — the    nineteenth  of  the    coun- 
ties of  Taliaferro,    Greene   and    Warren  ; — the    twentieth   of 
Baldwin,   Hancock  and   Washington    counties  ; — the    twenty- 
first  of  the  counties   of  Twiggs,  Wilkinson  and  Jones  ; — the 
twenty-second  of  the  counties  of  Bibb,  Monroe   and   Pike  ; — 
the   twenty-third  of    Houstoun,   Crawford   and   Taylor   coun- 
ties ;  —  the    twenty-fourth    of    the    counties    of    Muscogee, 
Marion    and    Chattahoochee  ; — the    twenty-fifth    of     Harris, 
Upson,    and    Talbot    counties  ;  —  the    twenty-sixth    of    the 
counties    of    Spalding,    Butts    and    Fayette  ;  —  the    twenty- 
seventh   of    Newton,    Walton,    Clarke,    Oconee    and    Rock- 
dale    counties  ; — the    twenty -eighth    of    the    counties   of   Jas- 
per,   Putnam    and    Morgan  ; — the   twenty-ninth    of    Wilkes, 
Columbia,    Lincoln    and    McDuffie    counties  ;— the    thirtieth 
of    the  counties  of   Oglethorpe,   Madison    and    Elbert  ; — the 
thirty -first    of    Hart,   Habersham  and    Franklin    counties ; — 
the    thirty-second    of    White,    Dawson    and    Lumpkin    coun- 
ties ; — the    thirty-third  of   the  counties  of   Hall,    Banks    and 
Jackson ; — the    thirty-fourth   of    the    counties    of    Gwinnett, 
DeKalb    and    Henry;— the    thirty-fifth    of    Clayton,     Cobb. 
and   Fulton  counties ; — the  thirty-sixth  of  Campbell,  Coweta, 
Meriwether    and    Douglas    counties ; — the    thirty-seventh    of 
the    counties   of    Carroll,    Heard    and    Troup ; — the    thirty - 
eighth  of  the  counties  of  Haralson,  Polk  and   Paulding  ; — the 
thirty-ninth  of  Milton,  Cherokee  and  Forsyth  counties ; — the 
fortieth  of  Union,  Towns  and  Rabun  counties  ; — the  forty -first 
of  Pickens,   Fannin  and    Gilmer  counties ; — the  forty-second 
of  the  counties  of  Bartow,  Floyd  and  Chattooga ; — the  forty- 
third  of  Murray,  Gordon  and   Whitefield  counties ; — and   the 
forty-fourth  of  the  counties  of  Walker,  Dade  and  Catoosa. 


33 

By  paragraph  II.,  section  II.  of  the  same  article  we  are 
advised  that,  while  it  is  permissible  for  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  State  to  change  these  senatorial  districts  after  each 
census  of  the  United  States,  neither  the  number  of  districts 
nor  the  number  of  Senators  from  each  district  shall  be  in- 
creased. 


34 


JUDICIAL  CIRCUITS. 

According  to  the  Georgia  Code  (1882,  p.  17)  the  entire 
State  constitutes  one  Supreme  Judicial  District.  It  is  divided 
into  twenty-three  Judicial  Circuits  in  reference  to  the  juris- 
diction and  sessions  of  the  Superior  Courts,  which  circuits  are 
as  follows: 

(1)  Albany    Circuit.      Organized  by  Act  of   October   17, 
1870  (Laws  of  1870,  p.  37).     It  now  comprises  Baker,  Cal- 
houn,  Decatur,  Dougherty,  Mitchell  and  Worth  counties. 

(2)  Atlanta  Circuit.     See  Act  of  February  21,  1869  (Laws 
of  1869,  p.  20),  changing  the  name  of  Coweta  Judicial  Cir- 
cuit (organized  by  Act  of  December  16,  1833 — Laws  of  1833, 
p.  76)  to  Atlanta  Circuit.     Fulton  county  now  composes  it. 

(3)  Augusta   Circuit.     Organized  by  Act  of  October  24, 
1870    (Laws   of    1870,  p.   38).      It  now  consists  of    Burke, 
Colun-bia,  McDuffie  and  Richmond  counties. 

(4)  Blue  Ridge  Circuit.     Organized  by  Act  of  November 
24,  1851  (Laws  of  1851-2,  pp.  219-20).     Now  composed  of 
Cherokee,  Cobb,  Dawson,  Fannin,  Forsyth,   Gilmer,  Milton 
and  Pickens  counties. 

(5)  Brunswick  Circuit.      Organized  by  Act  of  February 
8,  1856    (Laws  of  1855-6,  p.   215).     It  now  comprises   Ap- 
pling,    Camden,     Charlton,    Clinch,   Coffee,   Glynn,   Pierce, 
Ware  and  Wayne  counties. 

(6)  Chattahoochee  Circuit.     Organized  by  Act  of  Decem- 
ber 22,  1826   (Laws  of  1826,  p.   58).      Now  composed  of 
Chattahoochee,  Harris,  Marion,  Muscogee,  Talbot  and  Taylor 
counties. 

(7)  Cherokee   Circuit.     Organized  by  Act  of  December  3, 
1832  (Laws  of   1832,  p.  60),  and  now  consisting  of  Bartow, 
Catoosa,  Dade,  Gordon,  Murray  and  Whitefield  counties. 

(8)  Coweta  Circuit.     See  Act  of  February  28,  1874  (Laws 
of   1874,  p.   43),  changing  the   name   of    Tallapoosa   Circuit 


35 

(organized  by  Act  of  February  28,  1856 — Laws  of  1855-6, 
pp.  216-17),  to  that  of  Coweta  Circuit.  Now  composed  of 
Campbell,  Carroll,  Coweta,  Fayette,  Heard,  Merivvether  and 
Troup  counties. 

(9)  Eastern  Circuit.     First  organized  by  Act   of  February 
9,1797   (Watfcins9  Digest,  p.  620) : — An    Act    to    revise    and 
amend  the  Judiciary  system  of  the   State.     Reorganized  by 
Act  of  December  19,  r8<8  (Lamar's  Compilation,  p.  361): — 
An  Act  to  lay  off  six  Judicial  Circuits  in  this  State    including 
those  already  laid  out.     It   now   comprises    Chatham,  Bryan, 
Effingham,  Mclntosh  and  Liberty  counties. 

(10)  Flint  Circuit,     Organized   by  Act  of  December   24, 
1821   (Laws  of   1821,  p.  46),   and  now   composed   of    Butts, 
Henry,  Monroe,  Pike,  Spalding  and  Upson  counties. 

(n)  Macon  Circuit.  Organized  by  Act  of  November  24, 
1851  (Laws  of  1851-2,  p.  220).  It  now  consists  of  Craw- 
ford, Houstoun  and  Bibb  counties. 

(12)  Middle  Circuit.     First  organized  by  Act  of  February 
9,1797  (Watkins'   Digest,  p.    620).     Reorganized    by  Act  of 
December    19,    1818    (Lamar's   Compilation,   p.    361).     Now 
composed  of  Bulloch,  Emanuel.  Jefferson,  Johnson,  Screven, 
Tattnall  and  Washington  counties. 

(13)  Northeastern  Circuit.     Created  by   Act  of  August  8, 
1881  (Laws  of   i8So-i,  pp.  112-13).     It  now  consists   of  Hall, 
Habersham,    Rabun,    Towns,   White,  Lumpkin    and    Union 
counties. 

(i.j)  Northern  Circuit.  Organized  by  Act  of  December  19, 
1818  (Lamar's  Compilation,  p.  361),  and  now  comprising 
Elbert,  Glascock,  Hancock,  Hart,  Lincoln,  Madison,  Ogle- 
thorpe,  Taliaferro,  Warren  and  Wilkes  counties. 

(15)  Ocmulyee  Circuit.     First  organized  by  Act  of  Decem- 
ber 10,    1807  (Clayton's   Compilation,  pp.   359-361),   and  re- 
organized by  Act  of  December    19,   1818  (Lamar's  Compila- 
tion, p.  361).     It  now  consists  of  Baldwin,  Greene,  Laurens, 
Jasper,  Jones,  Morgan,  Putnam  and  Wilkinson  counties. 

(16)  Oconee  Circuit.     Organized  by  Act  of  December  12, 
871    (Livvs    of   1871  and  '72,  p.   32).      Now  composed   of 


36 

Dodge,  Irwin,   Montgomery,   Pulaski,  Telfair,    Twiggs  and 
Wilcox  counties. 

(17)  Pataula  Circuit.    Created  by  Act  of  February  8,  1856 
(Laws  of  1855-6,  p.  216).     It  now  comprises  the  counties  of 
Clay,  Early,  Miller,  Quitman,  Randolph  and  Terrell. 

(18)  Rome    Circuit.     Organized  by    Act    of    February  21, 
1869  (Laws  of  1869,  p.  20).     At  present  it  consists   of  the 
counties  of  Floyd,  Chattooga  and  Walker. 

(19)  Southern  Circuit.     Organized  by  Act  of  December  19, 
1818   (Lamar's  Compilation,  p.  361).     It  now  comprises  Ber- 
rien,  Brooks,  Colquitt,  Echols,  Lowndes  and  Thomas  counties. 

(20)  Southwestern  Circuit.     Organized  by  Act  of  Decem- 
ber 10,  1840   (Laws  of  1840,  p.  112).     It  is  now  composed  of 
Webster,  Schley,  Stewart,  Lee,  Macon,  Dooly  and  Sumter 
counties. 

(21)  Stone  Mountain  Circuit.     Created  by  Act  of  Septem- 
ber 8,  1885  (Laws  of  1884-5,  pp.  108-9),  and  now   consisting 
of  Clayton,  DeKalb,  Rockdale  and  Newton  counties. 

(22)  Tallapoosa  Circuit.     Created  by  Act  of  November  26, 
1890  (Laws  of  i89o-'9i,  Vol.   i,  p.   89),   and  now  consisting 
of  the  counties  of  Polk,  Paulding,  Haralson  and  Douglas. 

(23)  Western  Circuit.     First  organized  by  Act  of  February 
9>  X797  (Watkins'  Digest,  p.   620).     Reorganized  by  Act  of 
December  19,  1818  (Lamar's  Compilation,   p.  361).      At  pre- 
sent— I  follow  the  Superior  Court  calendar  as  revised  for  1892, 
which  was  published  with  the  first  volume  of  Georgia  Laws 
for  1890-91, — composed  of    the  counties    of  Banks,   Clarke, 
Oconee,  Franklin,  Gwinnett,  Jackson  and  Walton. 


37 


SUPPLEMENTAL  NOTE. 

In  connection  with  the  Judicial  Circuits,  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  under  the  Act  organizing  the  Supreme  Court  of  Georgia, 
approved  December  10,  1845  (Laws  of  1845,  pp.  18-24), 
provision  was  made  for  the  laying  off  and  establishment  of 
five  Judicial  districts.  These  districts  were  formed  with  refer- 
ence to  the  sessions  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  were  as  fol- 
lows : 

The  First  District  was  composed  of  the  Eastern  and  Southern 
Judicial  Circuits;  the  Second  comprised  the  Southwestern  and 
Chattahoochee  Judicial  Circuits.  The  Third  District  consisted 
of  the  Coweta  and  Flint  Judicial  Circuits;  the  Fourth  com- 
prised the  Western  and  Cherokee  Judicial  Circuits,  while  the 
Fifth  District  was  composed  of  the  Middle,  Northern  and 
Ocmulgee  Judicial  Circuits. 

The  Supreme  Court  continued  to  hold  its  sessions  at  the 
several  points  designated  within  these  districts  until  1868.  By 
the  Constitution  then  framed  it  was  declared  (see  Section  II., 
Paragraph  II.,  Article  V.  of  the  Constitution  of  1868,  Code 
of  Georgia,  1873,  P«  9J8),  that  the  ambulatory  character  of 
that  tribunal  must  terminate,  and  that  thenceforth  its  place  of 
meeting  should  be  the  seat  of  Government  of  the  Common- 
wealth. Since  December,  1868,  the  Supreme  Court  has  been 
permanently  established  at  the  State  capital,  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

FEBRUARY,  1892, 


